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PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE CRAVING THE CLASSROOM!

Despite parents’ best efforts to keep their children entertained over the summer holidays, the majority of youngsters still can’t wait to get back to school – for the love of their friends and a new pencil case.

A survey over the summer holidays from Smiggle, one of the UK’s boldest and brightest children’s stationery manufacturers, has revealed that far from dreading their first day back in the classroom, youngsters actually can’t wait.

Of a total of 150 parents questioned, 66 per cent (99) revealed that their child or children are itching to get back into their uniform, despite their virtuous efforts to keep them occupied for six weeks.

Two-thirds of primary school parents admitted that the prospect of seeing classroom friends, coupled with a new pencil case, was too compelling for their little boy or girl (aged four to 10).

Of those parents who admitted that their children were hankering after the classroom, 87 per cent (130) said seeing fellow friends was the main reason for wanting to return, with the prospect of a shiny pencil case almost as compelling, with 80 per cent (120) citing this as a secondary factor.

Virtually all parents questioned (93 per cent) said that they would be purchasing a brand new pencil case and rucksack for the new school year, in an attempt to ‘set the tone’ and encourage learning.

Smiggle

And 76 per cent of parents said that their child had a favourite pencil, pen and rubber, which they would not want to do their homework without.

Smiggle’s marketing manager Emma Fulford said: “As a children’s stationery retailer, we were keen to find out how children are feeling at this time of year, but even we didn’t think they’d be quite so keen to go back to school!

“We thought that they’d miss their parents too much, not to mention the memories and good times that they may have had over the summer break, but this doesn’t appear to be the case.

“Interestingly, it seems that many youngsters have an attachment and affinity to their stationery, which is a point that Smiggle takes seriously when developing innovative new products for boys and girls.

“It was also nice to read that they are keen to see their class-mates again and even more encouraging for us that they can’t wait to get their hands on a new pencil case, which we are experts in.”

For a bit of fun, Smiggle also asked parents if their children would steal a class-mate’s pen if they lost their own.

Eighty-three per cent emphatically said no, which either suggests that the youngest generation are an honest bunch, or that their parents are too proud to admit otherwise!

Smiggle is dedicated to fuelling youngsters’ creative spirit by creating original, fun and affordable stationery. The brand’s products are all focused around bold colour, quirky graphics, good value, innovation and most of all – giving fans the tools they need to have fun.

Smiggle

For more information about Smiggle and its infectious stationery products, visit www.smiggle.co.uk